using a forklift for something it wasn't designed for

[tempforce]

i've been cleaning up debris from logging trees damaged in a wildfire.
i tried using the box blade with the teeth set as low as they would go. i still moved way to much dirt..
and running the fork lift tines along the ground lets the chunks and brush fall between the forks… buying a rock / brush bucket or clamshell attachment is currently beyond the budget.
so i got my idea hat on…..
get more forks for the fork lift… 4 bars instead of two… less junk falling between the bars and less dirt moved than the box blade…
will be picking up the extra bars after the first of the month..

will post the results….good or bad… before anyone else uses the idea...

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Have you thought about using a set of logging tongs to pick the logs up and haul them off?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/NTESearch?storeId=6970&Ntt=logging+tongs

 

[Russell King]

You might want to look at the fork this guy built for his FEL to pick up debris (or thats what I think it is for anyway). Looks like it would work to pick up small limbs, brush and maybe rocks.

Look at the pictures about half way down the posts.

http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9438

I hope the Bastrop area is recovering from the wildfire but the drought here is Austin just keeps hanging on. A little rain every once in a while but mostly down your way, not west where it would fill the lakes. What does the Colorado look like down there - a creek? I haven't been down that way in a couple of years.

Looks like you at least are trying to get some logs/lumber out of it.

 

[tempforce]

those tines on the bucket look dangerous… would probably work pretty good…
logging tongs would work o.k. for moving logs. but won't do anything about clean up…

i have some logs cut and some brush to move, can't do it due to soft ground from that last good rain we had two weeks ago..
so i spent part of the day digging a trench to help drain the water from the sand.. later before covering the ditch. i'll install drain tile… as the area i need to work in, is the future driveway.. i don't need to waste $$$ adding rock every couple years to the driveway..
as soon as i get to the areas the tires have been sinking in, water starts weeping out of the soil… so we'll see how well it firms up in a day or two..

 

[Wildfire]

You had a good idea although eventually you'll wear the bottom of your forks. Although I have forks for the Bota I use my old forklift around the shop for just about everything. I put a pallet on it and use it for a work bench. I use it for towing vehicles and of course for lifting.
You can never tell what you'll use a forklift for. Here's a few examples:

Then there's the old Toyota Fork Lift.

 

[tempforce]

yea, i've used the forks to move my old trucks with.. one doesn't have a front suspension. the other doesn't have a steering wheel or driveline yet… can't wait until the new shop is ready. so i can roll the first one into it… and get er done..

 

[Eric McCarthy]

yea, i've used the forks to move my old trucks with.. one doesn't have a front suspension. the other doesn't have a steering wheel or driveline yet… can't wait until the new shop is ready. so i can roll the first one into it… and get er done..

COOL what kinda truck are you working on?!?!

 

[gssixgun]

I just ordered some Clamp on forks with Chain tighteners as a back up..
I ordered the #4000 set because my FEL is rated at #1500.. Most of what I will be doing is moving downed trees.. Although of course for the last 2 days I have been building a stone wall asnd sure could have used a set of Forks to off load pallets hehehe Figures...

The way I was reading the ratings on them was that you take the rating and divide by 2 which gives the lift cap for one fork.. I have a feeling that much of what I will be lifting will not so much be really heavy as more un-balanced.. this way I should not be able to over stress the FEL or the Forks..
But I will take it slow and easy either way I oredered the ones with the center Stabilizer bar also, hoping that will help with the off balanced loads..

 

[skeets]

i don't need to waste $$$ adding rock every couple years to the driveway..

Up here I have a lot of that yellow clay the has no bottom to it, and when its dry as a solid road way you'll never find, but rain for a couple days and anything you put down is gone,,
A bud came up with a porous scarfing material, like the rolls of landscaping stuff for your garden, only this stuff came in a roll 10 feet wide and much heaver in thickness, they use this around mining sites and on road ways where the base is not really solid.. Anyway I rolled it out and did a couple tri-axel's of 2A modified rolled it out and haven't lost anything except to my plowing snow. I know you asked about the forks but I thought you might look into the scarfing stuff it might help the drive way

 

[tempforce]

hi eric:
i have 2) 56 f100's … one is a parts supply rig.
then i have a 83 ranger with a 2.2 L mazda built perkins diesel in it.
it came with the engine from ford… needs a transmission repair...
i just moved an old bcs chipper attachment to the shop. i need to configure it so i can use it. either with the tractor on the 3 point or on wheels with a electric or gas engine...